normal Hear it!

normal Definition

nor·mal (nôr′məl)

adjective

  1. conforming with or constituting an accepted standard, model, or pattern; esp., corresponding to the median or average of a large group in type, appearance, achievement, function, development, etc.; natural; usual; standard; regular
  2. Biol. occurring naturally normal immunity
  3. Chem.
    1. designating or of a salt formed by replacing all the replaceable hydrogen of an acid with a metal or metals
    2. designating or of a solution which contains an amount of the dissolved substance chemically equivalent to one gram atom of hydrogen per liter of solution
    3. designating or of a fatty hydrocarbon, the chain of which is continuous rather than branched, in which no carbon atom is united directly to more than two others
  4. Math. perpendicular; at right angles
  5. Med., Psychol.
    1. free from disease, disorder, or malformation; specif., average in intelligence or development
    2. mentally sound

Etymology: L normalis < norma, a rule: see norm

noun

  1. anything normal
  2. the usual state, amount, degree, etc.; esp., the median or average
  3. Math. a perpendicular; esp., a perpendicular to a line tangent to a curve, at its point of tangency

normal Related Forms

nor′·malcy (-sē) noun or nor·mal′·ity-mal′ə tē

normal Synonyms

normal

modif.

  1. Usual

    ordinary, usual, standard, regular, typical, natural, average, common, run-of-the-mill; see also common 1, conventional 1, natural 2, traditional 2.

  2. Regular

    routine, orderly, methodical; see regular 3.

  3. Sane

    lucid, wholesome, right-minded; see rational, reasonable, sane 1.

  4. Showing no abnormal bodily condition

    in good health, whole, sound; see healthy 1.

normal implies conformity with the established norm or standard for its kind normal intelligence; regular implies conformity with the prescribed rule or accepted pattern for its kind the regular working day; typical applies to that which has the representative characteristics of its type or class a typical Southern town; natural implies behavior, operation, etc. that conforms with the nature or inherent character of the person, thing, or circumstances natural fears, a natural outcome; usual applies to that which conforms to the common or ordinary use or occurrence the usual price; average, in this connection, implies conformity with what is regarded as normal or ordinary the average man

normal Telecom Definition

  1. Conforming to an accepted, usual, or typical form, model, or pattern.
  2. In geometry and mathematics, the transverse or perpendicular, i.e., a right angle, which is 90 degrees from a plane or surface. Frankly, this seems decidedly abnormal to me, as I have known a lot of people who seemed to be at right angles compared to normalcy. See also counterintuitive, critical angle, out-of-phase, and total internal reflection.

normal Usage Examples

Modifying Another Word

  • perfectly: On awakening, he found that his hand was indeed perfectly normal.
  • quite: Most people with HIV in the UK live quite normal lives.
  • fairly: Many were attractive City workers who appeared to lead fairly normal lives.
  • clinically: Around 5 % of clinically normal women have colonization of the bacteria in their vaginas.
  • apparently: Unlike other types of schizophrenia the patients are usually presentable and if delusions are not acted on may function in an apparently normal manner.
  • below: In volume terms 13 per cent of firms said order books were above normal while 35 per cent said they were below normal.

Infinitive complement

  • feel: After giving birth it is normal to feel a mixture of emotions.
  • have: It is normal to have some discharge in your eye socket. this varies from onr person to the next.

Modifies a noun

  • hour: The normal working hours were from 8am till 5:30pm with an hour break for lunch.
  • circumstance: In normal circumstances, notification should be made in writing.
  • distribution: Strategies for collecting environmental data are also introduced as are standard ' models ' of data variability such as the normal distribution.
  • tissue: A course of radiotherapy is usually given in a number of sessions to minimize any side effects and to allow normal tissue to recover.
  • life: You will be able to carry on a normal life with the catheter in place.
  • operation: Normal operation therefore restarts at 00:01 on Saturday 9 July 2005.

Used with adjective complement

  • appear: X rays, if taken, may appear normal.
  • seem: It seems almost normal to bully or be bullied at school.
  • continue: If the user is happy with the default change then they can continue as normal.
  • feel: N: It's an evening when I feel normal.
  • look: Although it all looks normal enough at first glance, only two of the numbers are where you would expect them to be.
  • remain: A: The Hurst and Walton Swimming Pools will remain open as normal during this period.